Combined tool handle and switch



Aug. 6, 1929. o. H. PIEPER COMBINED TOOL HANDLE AND SWITCH Filed Deo.1,2, 1924 INVENToR TORNEY Patented Aug. 6, 1929.

PATENT OFFICE.

OSCAR H. PIEPER,`OF ROCHESTER, NEW YORK.

COMBINED TOOL HANDLE AND SWITCH.

Application filed December 12, 1924. Serial No. 755,575.

This invention. relates `to combined ytool f handles andswitches foroperating electrical hand tools, such, for example, as a dental cautery,the chief object of the invention being to provide an improvedinstrument of this nature operating in a simple and convenient mannerand having a practical form of construction comprising comparatively fewparts capable of being economically manufactured and readily assembledby unskilled labor.

To these and other ends the invention re-` sides in certain improvementsand combinations of parts, all as will be hereinafter more fullydescribed, the novel features being pointed out in the claims at the endof the specification.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a general View of an instrument embodying the presentinvention;

Figure 2 is a sectional view on the line ,f a--21 in Figure 1, showingthe interior op-` erating parts; y i t y y Figure 3 is a View similar toB igure 2, but

with the parts in different position and additionally sectioned; l .f l

Figure l is a similar View in a sectional plane at Lright angles to thatof Figures 2 and 3; f

Figure 5 isa transverse sectional view ony the line fia-.5 in Figure 3,and p y .n Figure 6 is afragmentary detail of a porA tion of the tubularhandle.`

vSiinilarreference numerals throughout the several views indicate thesame parts.

The invention is disclosed in the present instance by way ofillustration in an embodiment adapted for usewith dental hand tools,such as a cautery, comprising the handle portion proper indicatedgenerally at 10, and a portion 11 of the usual or, any suitableconstruction known in the art for mounting the tool itself. As shown,the tool mount y11 is attached to one end yof the handle portion, theother end of which receives the electrical conductors for energizing thetool under-cony n trol of the handle switch.l

` yThehandle comprises preferably a main tubular portion 12 constructedyof a suitable material with relatively tliinwalls throughout the majorportion of its extent Vbut thick` r ened somewhat at the tool end as at13; This end is adapted to have the end of the tool mount 11 detachablysecured therein for which ypurpose the latter is provided with a lug 14cooperating with a bayonet slot,`ofl the usual or any suitableconstruction (not shown), comprising an inclined shoulder vor surface 15.in 'the handle so that the tool mount after insertion in the latter maybe turned to bring lugll into cooperation with shoulder 15 and thussecurely draw the tool mount down to its seatin the handle, as Wellunderstood in the art.

The end of the tool mount in the handle carries ay projecting contactpost 16, Figure 3, surrounded in insulated relation by a shorterconducting rsleeve 17 these conducting portions extendingthrough thetool mount into connection with suitable contacts for cooperation withthe tool inserted in the mount.

lVithin the handle tube 12 is a core piece 18 of any suitable insulatingmaterial and of slightly less diameter than the bore of the tube, withlongitudinally extending slots 19.

These slots are for the purpose of receiving 75 cey tacliablyretained'intheir slots by means of 80 a doivel pin 24 and by U-shaped collars 25fitted over the saine in circular grooves 26 in the core piece. Thesesecuring means are readily applied and removed by hand with-l out theuse of tools and securely hold the contact and insulating strips in thecore piece slots. The core piece with its contacts thus assembledisreadily inserted through the end ofthe handle tube opposite the tool andis secured in proper position in the tube by means of a screw/27 passedfrom the outside through the tube Wall and into a threaded opening 28 inthe core'.

The ends of contact strips 20 and`21 opposite the tool have connectedtherewith the Wires 29 and 30, respectively, of an electric circuit ofsuitable power, these wires passing in a cord Slythrough an opening in aplug 32 detachably screwed into this end of the handle tube and equippedoutside the latter with a suitable flexible guard 33 for the circuitcord kThe contact strips 2O and 21 cooperate at their other ends withthe Contact elements 17 and 16, respectively, of the tool mount. Contactstrip 2() is extended lor continuous engageinent with contact sleeve 17against which. is bears through its inherent resilience so long as`thetool .mount is attached to the handle. Contact strip 21 is ext-endedopposite the end of contact rod 1G, but normally stands spaced Ciltheretrom as shown in Figure 2. For this purpose the contact strip isbent near the ad- ]acent end of the core piece so as to lie inclined tot-he axis of the handle, as at 34, Figure 3. The contacts 16 and 2l thusferm a pair ot self opening 'contacts operated by the means hereafterdescribed.

The means for operating the switch contact-s is simple and eitective,comprising a member or sleeve 35 sliding longitudinally on the handletube as shown. This sleeve is pret'- erably constructed ot insulatingmaterial with a thickened central portion 36 termed with a transversebearing opening in which slides a member of plunger 37, also otinsulating material. The latter projects at its outer end from thesleeve boss 36 as shown and at its inner end has a head 38 engaging theoutwardly inclined portion 34e ot the switch Contact 21 which normallypresses the plunger outwardly until its head 38 engages the inner wallsof the handle tube. The latter is termed with a longitudinal Vslot 39 inwhich the plunger works and which limits movement of the sleeve. Thecore piece is reduced in diameter for clearance in thisneighborhood asat Ll0, except for an end portion ell slotted to receive and guide thecontact strips 2O and 21. End portion 4l() is also slabbed 0H oppositethe .plunger as at 4t2 to clear the latter.

It is apparent from this construction that with the sleeve 35 in theposition shown in Figure 2 plunger 37 may be conveniently depressed andreleased by a thumb or finger of the hand holding the handle totemporarily close and open the switch, as desired in the operation otthe instrument. VOn the other hand when it is desired to close thecontacts and maintain them tor a period in closed posit-ion, this isconveniently accomplished by merely sliding sleeve 35 longitudinally onthe handle toward the tool end, in which movement the plunger, slidingalong the inclination of the contact 21, presses the inturned outer endthereof into engagement with the cooperating contact 16. The switch thusremains closed without holding the plunger so long as sleeve 85 remainsin this outer position, but is again cey opened by sliding the sleevelongitudinally in the opposite direction.

It will be seen trom the above description of the construction andoperation of the instrument that the invention provides in combinationwith a tool handle of compact and pleasing proportions, an exceedinglyconvenient switch which may be operated intermittently by merelydepressing plunger 37 or maintained closed for a desired period bymerely sliding sleeve 35 longitudinally ot the handle, both ot theseoperations being easily accomplished by a thumb or finger of the handgrasping the handle. The construction is furthermore simple, reliableand practical in character requiring but kfew parts economical tomanufacture and which may be readily assembled by unskilled labor.

I claim as my invention 1. In a combined electric tool handle' andswitch, a hollow tool handle containing a pair of seltopening vcontactsand actuating means therefor on said handle comprising a. pair otmembers having a relative movement for temporarily closing said contactsin one position and also a movement togetherto another position forauton'iatically closing said contacts and holding the same closed.

2. In a combined electric tool handle and switch, a hollow tool handleIccntaining a pail.` of self-opening contacts one of which is iixedwithin the handle and the other movable therein and relative thereto, amember adapted to be depressed againstthe action et said movablecontacts Vto temporarily close the same, and a second member carryingthe tirst member and movable on the handle whereby said first memberwill automatically `close said contacts and maintain the same closed.

3. In a combined electric tool handle and switch, a hollow tool handlecontaining a pair of relatively movable contacts, a plunger disposedoutwardly ot said contacts and adapted to be depressed inwardly of thehandle against the action of one `of said contacts for temporarilyclosing the same, and a sleeve carrying said plunger and movablelongitudinally ot the handle said movement causing the plunger to eifectclosingy said contacts and maintaining the same closed.

4. In a combined electric tool handle and switch, a hollow tool handlecontaining a pair of switch contacts one having an inclination to thehandle axis and a resilient self-opening action, a member adapted to bedepressed against the action of said resilient contact to temporarilyclose said contacts, and a second member carrying said first member andmovable longitudinally of the handle with said first member incooperation with theinclination of said contact for closing the contactsand maintaining the same closed.

In a combined electric tool handle and switch, a hollow tool handlecontaining a pair of switch contacts one having an inclination to thehandle axis and a resilient self-opening action, a plunger adapted to bedepressed inwardly of the handle against said resilient contact totemporarily close the contacts, and a sleeve carryinr said plunger andslidable longitudinally o the handle with said plunger in cooperationwith the inclination of said contact to move the latter to closedposition and hold it closed. V

6. In a combined electric tool handle and switch, ahollow tool handle, apair of tiXed contacts therein, a core piece in said handle carrying apair of spring contacts with one of the same engaging one of said ixedcontacts and the other inclined to the handle axis and normally spacedfrom said other fixed Contact, a finger piece depressible in- Wardly'oit the handle against said spaced spring contact to temporarily engagethe same with its :tixed contact, and a member' carrying said .fingerpiece and movable longitudinally of the handle with said linger piece incooperation with the inclined portion of said Contact to move the sameto and retain it in closed position.

7. In a combined electric tool handle and switch., a hollovsT toolhandle, a pair of contacts therein, a longitudinally slotted core piecedetachably inserted in said handle, a pair of spring contacts detachablysecured in the slots of said core piece with one thereof in engagementwith one of said first contacts and the other inclined to the handleaxis and normally spaced from the other of said irst contacts, a sleeveslidable longitudinaliy7 oi' the handle and having a transverse bearingtherein, and a plunger sliding in said bearingv and in a longitudinallyextending slot in said handle in cooperation with said .inclined contactfor temporarily closing the switch and for holding the switch closedWhen said sleeve is moved longitudinally on the handle.

8. In a device of the class described, a hollon7 handle, a pair ofcontacts disposed Witlr. in the handle, one of which is i'ixed and theother movable lto engage the same, said movable contact having a portioninclined to the axis of the handle, a control member movable to dilerentpositions on the handle, and a second member movable on the controlmember tra nsverscly of the axis of the handle and arranged when thecontroi member is moved to one position to move relative thereto throughengagement with the inclined portion of said movable Contact, andserving to move lsaid contact to closed position.

9. In a device ot' the class described, a hollow handle, a pairofcontacts disposed Within the handle, one oi Which is lixed and the othermovable to engage the sai e, said movable contact having a portioninclined yto the axis ot the handle, a control member movable todifferent positions on the handle, and a second member movable on thecontrol member transversely of the axis of the handle and arranged Whenthe control member is in one position to be manually `forced inwardly toengage and close the movable contact and adapted during movement of thecontrol member to another position to automatically shift the movablecontact to closed position through engagement with the inclined portionthereof.

OSCAR H. PIEPER.

